Wichita eagle., 1887-05-27
AN INDIAN TREATY.

In August. 1870, was in the land OF the
Hlackfeet on British territory. The northern
nlains which stretch from the Hole in the
Breast Divide to the thick woods lying be
yond the North Saskatchewan river lay
broiling in the sun. The air rose from the
hot around and rolled in heated waves across
the sea of arid land, breaking into simmer.
ing foam against the buttes and divides, and
raging in angry tumult in the low lying land
Every depression was boiling sea OF heat
Every hill was sea grit island, against
which impalpsble waves foamed, and long
silver tongues of heat swished far up theil
TANKS The wind, doubly heated sirocce
blew in puffs, and the scant, buffalo tra--peu,
heritage was whipped into ribbons - Z. ou ~,
into brown powder and flur0 ,5 1nvo .a'' 20, a.
drons of boiling ,srin NJ Mexican breath
tin1, ,,h;rl~ ,uds rose from the cal
Sro 49, =" be blown into brown haze by
a.. Succeeding puff. Birds, with parted
bills and dropping wings and heaving breasts,
stood in the shade cast by low growing cac-
tus, and closely Rugged the spiny plants.
Specific prairie fires chased one another
across the arid, gravelly plains, and great
tongues of seeming flames were thrust far in
advance Of the pillows Of heat. Seen through
the heated air. rocks, antelope, buffalo, were
ira. 'ormed into awe inspiring or fantastic
objects. Nature was conjuring in the land of
the Blacbfeet. Groups Of mounted and
blanketed Indians dashed from behind hills
and descended into valleys, to emerge as ante
lope or buffalo Mirages sprang into life.
Here was a mountain scene. There, on q
tree encircled lake, white breasted swans and
geese sported. Yonder the glories Of the
cypress hills were revealed, and there the
canyons, snow peaked and pine clad, of st.
Mary's lake rose out of the ground. The
pictures changed continually. One instinct
lively listened to hear the sound produced by
the shifting of the scenes. The low depres-
sions which had be4n filed with alkaline
water in the spring, were dry and paved with
Ill fitting, loose jointed tiles of sun baked,
white mud. The profound silence was broken
only by the sad, mournful cry of hawk,
which circled high above the hot, parched
earth
In deep valley, gouged in the plains by the
cold water Of the Belly river, at the point
where the st. Mary's river joins the former
stream, the Haley Brothers trading post
stood, apparently in a sea of fame. 1t was
hot OH the plains 1t was hotter in this mar
row valley. Men lay on the ground in the
shade cast by the walls of the log fort and
painted. Hatless, shoeless, with open shirts,
they lay and suffered At intervals Indian
girls in bright colored, flowing gowns walked
slowly out of the dark recesses of the fort and
stood in the blazing sun for an instant as they
gazed at the quivering crest of the canon like
walls Of the valley. Then turned and, after
speaking lowly to their white lovers, slowly
the fort. The sullen, fierce visaged
men paid no attention to the girls, but lay
silently suffering. Occasionally one of them
would unbuckle his revolver belt and irritably
casting it on the ground would pull off his
flannel shirt aid plunge into the river. The
valley was absolutely silent, except for the
of the rapidly flowing water.
Suddenly an old man, whose life had been |
spent in the service of the Hudson Bay and |
Northwestern Fur companies, and who had
been lying on his back close to the wall of the !
,ort, apparently in profound sleep, sprang to
lis feet, alert, active. He leaned toward,
,azed up the valley, listened attentively for
IN instant, then called aloud to his comrades:
There is fighting going on up the st. Mary's
ALLEY" Instantly all the men were on their
eet and listening. Then they dashed into the
ort. The doors were shut. Rifles were
,rasped, and the employees silently took their
stations. Up the valley, far beyond
he point which juts into the river, faint rife
bots could be heard, mingled with yells and
indian battle cries. Presently the battle
ounds grew nearer and the firing increased
n volume and the shouting was incessant. In
few minutes the contestants swarmed
tho rlpipt in J
lass, and it was seen that the Blackfeet were
eing whipped and were in full retreat.
raves threw up there arms, wavered in
heir saddles for an instant, and then fell head
ing from their horses. Others fell TO rise
gain and continue their flight The band
tempted to stand, then, panic stricken,
heeled their horses and galloped down the
alley, abandoning their dead and wounded.
ehind them, naked, mounted on bareback
orses, and causing the heated air to culver
gain with their cries, came the Pend Oreilles
nd Flatheads, the bravest Indians on the
,ntinent. Their bowstrings twanged, and a
oud Of arrows preceded their line, anG
'ngues Of smoke shot out of the few rifles
leir braves carried. As they galloped in pur-
ut, active men leaped from their horses and
alping knives flashed around the heads of
eir dead enemies, and scalrs bloody and
arm were twirled on high with exultant
outs.
The Blackfeet, flying before the Pend Ore
es, crowded into the stockaded corral of the
AIDING post and dropped the heavy gate into
ace. The so called scourges of the northern
AIMS We're corraled TO the number of 25C,
fey were frantic from fear. Outside ale
lley was apparently abandoned by animal
e, excepting bunch OF horses slowly dis
pearinS up the valley. The victorious Pend
relies had comprehended the situation at n
ance. They had dismounted and sank ont =.
sight in the grass, behind trees, under the
nix at the river. Wherever there was cover
ere lurked Pend Oreille or Flatheai |
ave. AT last, after two generations of roo
~ and murder and savage foray on the
TT of the Blackfeet, the Pond Oreilles had ;;
{ the upper hand in fight and they meant ! .
e1terminate that war party. They had ,
wen them TO cover, driven them to the !
otection afforded by white men and fort. ,
The Blackfeet warriors belonged TO the | :
ebrated Piegan clan, famous for desperate !
Tor and fearlesSness They were mighty
n; few of them were less than feet il, u
ght. They were broad shouldered and 9
thanked. Each brave carried a breech Z
ding rifle, two heavy Colts revolvers md P
hort, powerful bow and culver stated y
II long, iron tipped, grooved and feathered -.
arrows. Many Of them were wounded q
feathered butt of an arrow stuck out OF G
abdomen of one Of the Piegans, and its ia
u head was thrust six inches out of his III
K. The arms and legs of other Indians W
,e skewered with arrows that they had not II
time to extract during their disorderly M
reat. Quickly the arrows were broken lie
pulled out and the wounds bound m. u